Deep-fried foods linked to prostate cancer

Thursday March 14, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study in The Prostate suggests that eating deep fried foods, high heat cooking, and fast food increase the risk of prostate cancer (PCa), which kills about 17,000 men in the United States.

Janet L. Stanford from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA and colleagues conducted the study and found eating more than one serving per week of French fries, fried chicken, fried fish and doughnuts was associated with 37, 30, 32, and 35 percent increased risk of prostate cancer, respectively, compared with those eating less than one serving per week.

Eating snack chips was also associated with 8 percent increased risk of prostate cancer although it was less significant. Eating fried food was particularly strongly associated with more aggressive disease. For instance, eating fried fish was correalated with 41 percent increased risk of prostate cancer.

The researchers concluded "Regular consumption of select deep-fried foods is associated with increased PCa risk. Whether this risk is specific to deep-fried foods, or whether it represents risk associated with regular intake of foods exposed to high heat and/or other aspects of the Western lifestyle, such as fast food consumption, remains to be determined."

The study was based on data from 1549 cases of prostate cancer and 1492 controls who did not have the disease.

Fried food can contain unhealthy frying oil. During the frying process, carcinogens can be formed including aldehydes, acrolein, heterocyclic amines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and acrylamide.

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